Photo Credit: News Generation
For all you newcomers, and there are A LOT of you, Saturday Selects is a series of posts I write the first Saturday of each month in which I discuss something other than books. This will be my fourth in the series.
I have to be honest with you guys. I sat here at my computer with my blogging playlist playing away and I couldn’t come up with anything I thought was worthy of a post. I’m talking over an hour I did this. I even smacked my head against the armrest of my chair once or twice. But I ultimately decided on country music because, duh it’s amazing, and also because Blake Shelton is tweeting EVERYONE right now. It’s one in the morning here. So let’s get into it.
Before I begin, I’d first like to let you know that I am OBSESSED with country music. I’m not exaggerating one bit. Let me tell you how I first got into the genre because I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on here before. And if I have, well I still like the story. So let’s rewind back to the end of 2009. I was in the midst of my senior year of high school. And I met this girl. I won’t tell you anything about her except that she loved country music. Maybe not as much as I do now, but she listened to it far more than anything else. Anyway, my birthday comes at the end of the year and us both being in high school, well a real birthday present was all but out of the question. So she gave me a nice handwritten letter. A pack of gum. A candy cane (for Christmas). A picture of her with her snowman, it had snowed in Houston for the first time in years! AND a list of country songs for me to download and listen to. Let me tell you, this is still the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten. All of those seemingly meaningless things. I STILL have the list she gave me, the picture, and the letter. Don’t ask me why because you can likely assume the correct answer to your own question. It took me a few weeks, but I finally downloaded the songs, it was 18 in total, and put them on a CD and played them in my car. Over and over and over again. That’s how I fell in love with the genre, by listening to a few random country songs on repeat.
I haven’t spoken to you in years, Desirae, but I thank you for introducing me to country music.
Now let’s talk about what makes the genre so great. First, and I know you’ve probably heard this before, EVERY song tells a story. Every single one. I’ve heard songs about suicide and breakups and abuse and partying and having children and everything in the middle. Tell me, have you heard a pop song recently that talks about children? I haven’t. But I also don’t listen to the genre too often. Or what about losing someone close to you? I’m sure there are songs out there in other genres, but you ALWAYS get great stories by way of country music. Always.
I mean, it simply does not get any better than a country love song. It doesn’t. Pop “ballads” are rarely ballads. But I’m not only talking pop, though. Hip-hop, um no. R&B, huh? Rock, does it even exist? I’m not here saying that other genres don’t produce some good music, I’m saying there’s far more to a song than how much radio airplay and downloads it gets. I’m actually a fan of Bruno Mars.
Lastly, one of the major knocks on country music today is that it’s gone so far into the direction of pop. Shut up. Right now, without utilizing the internet, can you tell me just five country singers you consider to be pop country? Just five. Of course I can, but can you? Leaving out Taylor Swift. If you can’t then you’ve just made my point for me. Country music has simply evolved. It doesn’t sound the same as it did 10, 15, or 20 years ago. But if it’s gone pop, then how has George Strait managed to stay relevant over the course of three decades? Or Reba? Or any of the other artists who have been around since long before some of the newcomers were even born. So don’t tell me country music has gone pop, because it hasn’t.
Some of my favorite artists include Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and George Strait.
If you’d like to read the others in the series, here they are:
Saturday Selects: Blogging amidst your social media
I’ve never liked Taylor Swift. Ever.
I have quite an eclectic taste in music, but I do listen to country a bit. My fave country artists are The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Johnny Cash, and Sugarland.
LikeLike
I actually kinda like her. Two of her songs are currently on my blog writing playlist. Haha shoot me.
LikeLike
Only with a rubber band. 🙂
Btw, I’m going to e-mail you my draft of my post. I wrote it in Word. Is that okay?
LikeLike
Haha those actually hurt.
You wrote it already!? Geez. You don’t waste any time. Haha
And of course.
LikeLike
Yeah, I don’t waste time when I’m doing something for somebody else. When it’s my own junk, I could procrastinate forever.
I just sent the e-mail.
And here’s your uplifting comment for the day: No matter what you’ve done in the past, there’s always something better on the horizon. (In life and with writing). Keep at it!
(I hope I earned my paycheck). Oh, wait…
LikeLike
Soooo you’re going to write all my future blog posts for me and I’ll take credit. Seriously, what the heck? That post is phenomenal.
LikeLike
I’m glad you approve. I wasn’t 100% happy with it.
LikeLike
Well you’re insane is about all I can say to that. Do I get to call you Amy now? Or is that reserved for more awesome people than I?
LikeLike
Haha!! You can call me Amy. The only reason I don’t blog much under my own name is because I’m a little paranoid. I’ve had some bad experiences with the internet so I’m always careful.
Not that it matters in the long run because I’ll be publishing under my own name someday anyways.
LikeLike
I feel like I’m in an exclusive group now. Even though I had read your interview.
Ooooh. Confidence.
LikeLike
Haha!! Well good!
LikeLike
So Amy, how did you come up with phantomwriter143?
LikeLike
Mostly because the books I’m writing for middle grade is called The Phantom Apprentice. Ergo… Phantom writer. But that name was already taken, so I put 143 at the end. It’s a code between my friends and I that means “I love you.” I thought it was fitting. I’m sure I could have come up with a much better name, but I was impatient to get my blog up and running. I still can’t think of a better name yet.
LikeLike
Hmm. Okay. I like phantomwritergirl. Haha literally thought of that in two seconds. I know it’s dumb.
LikeLike
No it’s not. But I’m 29. Girl just seems too young for me.
I’m not the biggest fan of my blogging name, but meh! I’m much prouder of the title of my blog.
LikeLike
Hmm. I still like it.
I like your blog title. Mine is okay. I thought of it after about eight seconds of thinking when I first set up.
LikeLike
I love your blog title! I thought it was cool when I first saw it. I still think that.
LikeLike
Even though I don’t talk about my writing anymore at all. Maybe that’s how come I’ve been working on this book for so long! Hmm.
LikeLike
It’s possible. But notice I’ve only mentioned my progress in my books once since I started. If it helps to keep you motivated, though, get back to it.
LikeLike
Writing about MY writing is boring. No one would even read it. I don’t like reading other blogs where they give constant update after update on their writing. 1200 words today. 2000 words later. Then 10000 for the week! That’s annoying. Or maybe I’m bitter.
LikeLike
Probably not bitter. Just frustrated that you’re not writing like you want to. Especially since it’s taking longer than your first book. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You could just be internalizing things more before you get them on the page. If it makes you feel any better, you’re writing way more than I am at this point.
LikeLike
But aren’t you done already? With your book? Or isn’t it books?
You take your motivational job seriously. Haha 🙂
LikeLike
My first book is done. I’m working on number two in the series, and I’m tinkering with about five other stories as well. And then there are about a dozen more that I keep writing notes in, but don’t have time to sit down and write.
Book one is 105,000 words, which is 381 pages double spaced in Word. That’s whittled down from about 130,000, so the books are kind of long.
LikeLike
My mind is incapable of thinking of more than just the story I’m working on. You’re crazy.
105,000 words? Yeah….no. My first one doesn’t count as a book compared to that. I think it was 55,000. Ha. No wonder I finished so fast.
LikeLike
I know I’m crazy. Nothing groundbreaking there. My brain just never shuts up. It’s probably why I don’t sleep well most nights.
And stop with the comparisons! Sheesh!! You’re a tough egg to crack. Books can be any length. One of my all time favorite books is about 20,000 words. Maybe 25. And it’s not a kids book.
And I’m sure once I get to a publisher, they’ll want me to hack it up and make it shorter, anyways.
LikeLike
I want my brain to do that. Trade me.
But think about it! An agent or publisher won’t come near a manuscript less than like 80,000 words. You’re talking 50% more than I’ve ever written. I’m scared. At least that’s what I hear for my genre. Ugh.
I think I’d rather take away than add.
LikeLike
Based on what I’ve read so far of your book, I think there is some room for addition. Nothing crazy, just little bits here and there. And those bits add up. If your second book is shaping up like your first, you have nowhere to go but up!
LikeLike
Don’t tell me anything while you read! Your thoughts are incomplete.
LikeLike
Whoops!! Sorry! I’ll shut up now. And I’m signing off for the night. It’s after midnight and I have to be up early.
LikeLike
Alrighty.
LikeLike
I’m halfway through your book. Should finish by tonight.
LikeLike
Not sure how I feel about that.
LikeLike
Why?
LikeLike
Because then you’ll HAVE to tell me what you think.
LikeLike
Well, it’s to your credit that I’m finishing it so soon. I’m a speed reader, but if I don’t like a book, I put it down and never pick it back up. It took me a whole year to read the first Twilight book (yuck) because it was just ridiculous and I kept rolling my eyes at it.
No, I’m not comparing you to Stephenie Meyer. I’m just saying, the fact that I’m finishing it in only a couple days is good news. So buck up, dude!!
LikeLike
Or maybe it’s only cause we talk on one or both of our blogs like everyday so you at least want to finish it? I think that’s more likely.
LikeLike
Okay, I guess it’s time for my daily motivational message for you: Please take more pride in your work and in yourself. You’re only making it more difficult for YOU in the long run.
Remember that writing takes time, talent, and a good dose of determination. No matter what other people think of it, it’s what YOU think that matters most.
And even if I were reading just because we chat a lot, if it was hard for me to get through, it’d take me at least a week to finish.
LikeLike
Sooooo you’re REALLY good at thus motivation thing. Like it’s ridiculous. Would it be wrong of me to propose marriage just so I can always have you in my ear with some encouragement?
And I told you! It’s not that I’m not proud of it, it’s that I only know of like two ish other writers who have read it. That’s what’s scary. Don’t yell at me.
LikeLike
I wasn’t yelling. That’s what’s hard about communication via the internet. You can’t read into tone. Though I suppose talking in caps kind of makes things confusing.
I’m a bit of a Sally Sunshine, so I’m fairly encouraging with most people. (Not that you’re not unique). It’s just my personality. I’m here to act as the antithesis to all the Debbie Downers of the world.
And dude, I’m SEVEN years older than you.
Just sayin…
LikeLike
Sally Sunshine. Hmm.
Seven? Actually, it’s six since I haven’t had my birthday this year. Maybe six and a half. So what? My parents are ten. Oh well.
LikeLike
Just let me know any time you need a little bolstering up. I always have a few motivational speeches in my back pocket.
And you don’t like Sally Sunshine??? I came up with it myself.
LikeLike
I like it okay.
LikeLike
All right, then.
I’ll let you know when I’m done reading.
LikeLike
Alrighty. I expect nothing but positivity.
LikeLike
There’ll be plenty of that, I promise.
LikeLike
Done!
LikeLike
Tell me the bad. And be honest. I’m not as sensitive as I lead you to believe. There are some BAD reviews for it. I just laugh them off.
LikeLike
I can be a bit long-winded with my reviews. Would you prefer I email you?
LikeLike
Up to you. Doesn’t have to be a review. You could just make a list or something. However.
LikeLike
Yeah, I’m not so good at lists. I like to ramble on a bit and explain what I think. I’ll email you.
LikeLike
Okay.
LikeLike
Did you get my email?
LikeLike
Yep.
LikeLike
Okay. Well I hope you don’t hate me now. I think you have a lot of talent and I was just trying to help. Feel free to ignore everything I said if it’s not at all helpful.
LikeLike
Of course not. It was very much appreciated. Really. You just hit on everything so I didn’t have blaring questions. Thanks for reading it! 🙂
LikeLike
It was my pleasure! Honestly. I look forward to your next book in the series.
LikeLike
Hm. Yay!
And stop with the ‘I’m not published so my opinion may mean nothing’ cause I didn’t receive any more detailed feedback from any person than what you sent me. Don’t make me yell at you.
LikeLike
No yelling required. I’ve done a lot of editing and tutoring in the past, but some people don’t consider that real experience.
LikeLike
And those people have probably never written anything worth reading in their life.
LikeLike
Haha!! Now who’s the one giving the pep talks?
LikeLike
Wellllll you’ve been pretty great, so I figured I could return the favor a little. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
And I still want a motivational message from you today. Just saying. 🙂
LikeLike
No worries. I’ll just switch over to comment on your recent post when I get home from work.
LikeLike
Perfect.
LikeLike
I was raised on Johnny Cash. Sunday Morning Coming Down, written by the brilliant Kris Kristofferson, is easily one of the saddest and most beautiful songs ever written. When Johnny sings it you are given a window into alcoholism, loneliness, and regret, that is profound. Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. (though a bit nutty) are also among my favourites. I think good writing transcends the genre be it music or literature or any form of art.
LikeLike
I’ve heard all the names, but I can’t say I actually know anything by them. I’m young. Lol
LikeLike
(Your post reminded me of something, so I thought I’d share it.)
I’m originally from Bristol, TN, which is officially “The Birthplace of Country Music”. My kids were raised there until we moved to Texas last year. So I was surprised when my daughter left voice lessons last week and said, “Mom, do you know how country music got started?” I thought maybe her teacher knew about Bristol’s claim to fame. Instead, my daughter answered, “It started out by people singing bad, and eventually people learned to pronounce their vowels correctly.”
Nooooo! I quickly set my daughter straight, but haven’t mentioned it to her teacher. I don’t think it really matters since my daughter is learning to sing an Imagine Dragons song.
Also, I’d like to put in a plug for Scott Miller and the Commonwealth. He has written some great story songs. My favorites are “The Rain” and “Loving that Girl”, but not limited to those. And, no, I don’t work for him. Ha!
LikeLike
Hahaha I love what she said!
LikeLike
[…] written about blogging, Derek Jeter’s final season, Jennifer Lawrence, guys, tattoos, country music, and now today you get to read a little bit about law […]
LikeLike
[…] On this day in 2014 I published Saturday Selects: The Beauty of Country Music. […]
LikeLike